World

Ukrainian Opposition Leader Mikheil Saakashvili has been deported to Poland، the Ukrainian border service said، after he was detained in a Kiev restaurant by law enforcement agents in camouflage، Reuters reported.

CCTV released by Mr Saakashvili's press service appeared to show the moment he was detained at the Suluguni restaurant.

Poland's border service confirmed that he had arrived and that Warsaw had agreed to let him enter.

The deportation appears to bring an abrupt end to a months-long cat-and-mouse game between Mr Saakashvili and the Ukrainian authorities، which saw street unrest during previous attempts to arrest him.

Some critics، including in the Opposition، said his movement distracted from the broader opposition's campaign to hold the Kiev leadership to account.

Mr Saakashvili، who served as president of his native Georgia for most of the period from 2004-2013، was invited to Ukraine by President Petro Poroshenko، who took power after protests toppled a pro-Russian leader in 2014.

He held a regional governorship from 2015-2016 before falling out with Mr Poroshenko and joining the Opposition.